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Title: Aggievator Vol. XIX No. 1 – Oklahoma A&M, September 1942
Author: Student publication feat. Pete Tumlinson (printed signature in artwork)
Year: 1942
Edition: First printing
Publisher: Oklahoma A&M College
Condition: Good+
Notable Content: Three early printed works by Marvel/Atlas artist Pete Tumlinson; article on Coach Jim Lookabaugh
Provenance: WWII-era student magazine featuring pre-Marvel work by Tumlinson
Rarity: Very scarce; no other known copies publicly offered
Book Description:
Extremely rare 1942 issue of The Aggievator, student humor and sports magazine from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), featuring three early printed works by Pete Tumlinson — best known for his Golden Age work with Atlas Comics, predecessor to Marvel.
Published when the school was known as Oklahoma A&M College — now Oklahoma State University (OSU) — this rare issue offers a snapshot of wartime campus life and emerging comic talent.
This issue predates Tumlinson’s professional comic book career and includes two full printed comics as well as a full-page caricature titled “The Tumlinson Boy”, all signed in the art. Tumlinson would later become a key contributor to Atlas Comics, notably illustrating multiple issues of Kid Colt Outlaw, one of the longest-running Western titles in Marvel’s pre-superhero era.
Interestingly, Tumlinson attended Texas A&M, making his appearance in this Oklahoma A&M publication a likely freelance or guest contribution. This cross-college presence adds a layer of rarity, suggesting this may be one of the only surviving examples of Tumlinson’s pre-Atlas cartooning published outside his home institution.
Also included is a prominent sports article on Coach Jim Lookabaugh, head coach of the 1945 national championship Aggies football team, making this magazine a powerful piece of WWII-era collegiate and sports history.
This item holds significant value for collectors of Marvel/Atlas Comics history, WWII-era ephemera, and American comic book heritage.
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Condition:
Very good overall for its age. Cover is bright with minor edge wear. There is a visible water stain in the upper right-hand corner, affecting the cover and a few internal pages. No tears or major damage. Staples are secure, pages are complete and intact, and Tumlinson’s printed artwork is fully visible.
See photos for details and please reach out if you have any further questions.
Thank you,
Book Squirrel
